Teaching Beluga Babble in Japan

Everybody knows that whales and dolphins can vocalize through echolocation, which they use to communicate with each other. Now a Japanese 'whale whisperer' has taught a beluga whale to recognize and repeat three sounds associated with three different objects.

This is nice coming from a country that has been promoting whales for food rather than conversation lately. It's a nice start, but I have a feeling they have a lot more to say.

Implications - The research and training in Beluga Babble started by Tokai University professor Tsukasa Murayama began after he became displeased with the communication signals he had in place with dolphins and whales. Nack, a whale at the Kamogawa Sea World marine park in Japan, uses certain high pitched noises of different amplitudes and frequency to communicate different things.